SF2V / WOV Air & Ground Expansion Packs

[DrArrow 0]

DrArrow:

 

Glad to hear that you're enjoying the Expansion Pack.

 

Regarding the A-6 LODs: yes, they are missing in the Expansion Pack. As stated in the ReadMe, you have to download the FOTI A-6A Intruder from here:

 

http://forum.combata...s&showfile=5014

 

Then grab the Cockpit folder from that mod and drop it in the folders for the A-6 and EA-6 variants.

 

I haven't seen the brown triangles you've seen with the SAM airburst effects, so I don't know that there's much I can do about that.

 

As for your other suggestions, we might be able to include an alternate set of flak effects. If you could ZIP up your alternate flak effects and attack them to a post here, I'll take a look. Same with your Green Hell 2 mods.

 

I'm reluctant to go much beyond that, though, as we've already got so much optional this-that-and-the-other that users are becoming confused during installation (take a look at earlier posts in this thread).

 

Best,

 

Eric L. Howes

 

Greetings - thanks for your reply, well I just missed the line in the readme about A-6 pits. The triangles look like triangles just from close view - further it looks like flying dirt-debris, but it is probably only some mine specific problem, which I solved so not really a problem :) I'll check and test my effects and GH2 light today and will upload it tomorrow, so you can consider adding them as options (I completely understand that you don't want to include too much option files in the whole pack, but maybe:) Keep up the good work.

[snapper 21 762]

Hi eburger68

 

Added your new airfield bitmaps, and got this result on my first mission. Should point out that getting this shot cost us one RF-4C! Do like the look of the airfield though.

 

Cheers

 

Snapper 21

 

[+eburger68 195]

Snapper 21:

 

Yep, that's the way they're supposed to look. Glad to hear you like it.

 

Eric Howes

[+malibu43 142]

How do I edit out aircraft available in Vietnam single mission? Aircraft from my other merged installs (Europe and Israel) show in available aircraft list, even though I installed this mod in its own Vietnam mod folder. I'm launching the Vietnam exe. in the merged install, is this the correct way? (Vietnam/Europe/Israel/Israel patch)

 

I also have Europe and Israel Campaigns showing in the selection list.

 

Everything is working well by the way.

 

The only way to prevent that is to create a separate non-merged install of SF2V. Instructions for doing so are in the Knowledge base, I believe.

 

 

 

[RichardG 3]

Thanks, I did that.

 

Mig 21 PFVs have no skins. (think I was flying in '73)

[+eburger68 195]

Richard:

 

The service end year for that model is 1972. The game shouldn't have allowed that aircraft to fly in 1973. Try flying an earlier year and see if that particular model is still missing a skin. If it is, then that's a problem with the ThirdWire installer -- let us know.

 

Eric L. Howes

[RichardG 3]

This one is from '67.

 

 

This is from new install of Vietnam2/Europe2 merged (and June patch), but with seperate Vietnam mod folder for the expansion mod. Everything else is looking good so far.

Edited November 2, 2009 by RichardG

[+eburger68 195]

Richard:

 

That's definitely a ThirdWire installer bug -- others have had the same problem with different MiGs. Here's an easy fix:

 

1. Download this package:

 

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=1451

 

2. Unpack it to a temporary folder.

 

3. Find the \Objects\Aircraft\MiG-21PF\SovietSilver directory in that temporary folder.

 

4. Grab the five .BMP files from \SovietSilver and copy them to the \Objects\Aircraft\MiG-21PFV\VPAFSilver1 directory in your SF2V Mod Dir.

 

That should take care of it.

 

Eric L. Howes

[JediMaster 451]

Hi eburger68

 

Added your new airfield bitmaps, and got this result on my first mission. Should point out that getting this shot cost us one RF-4C! Do like the look of the airfield though.

 

Cheers

 

Snapper 21

 

 

Many Bothans died to bring us this information...

[DrArrow 0]

I am sending lightened FLAK effects (without particle debris) - I think they didn't loose much quality but gain lot of FPS in high flaked area, anyone who wants may try them:

Flak_Effects_light.zip

 

 

And the second file are updated TODS that delete all jungle trees from the map leaving only nice cities and bunch of trees in fields around airfields cities, small settlements. Again anyone who wants may try them, you just need to delete all TODS from your sout/north vietnam main terrain directory (of course do not delete tods from subdirectories, low/medium/high)

 

 

Greenhell_light_tods.zip

 

 

I tested it and haven't found any bugs, but one never knows.

[+eburger68 195]

DrArrow:

 

Thanks for those. I'll check them out later tonight.

 

ELH

[RichardG 3]

I'm seeing very little fire from shot down Migs. They just break apart with some smoke then go down. Is this something thats been tweak in the expansion, or has stock Vietnam always looked that way?

[+eburger68 195]

Richard:

 

It depends on where and with what you hit them. Hit them with an AIM-7 head-on from 5 miles out and you'll tend to see more flames. Take off a wing or the tail with a gun shot and you won't see much if any flame at all. AIM-9 kills are a mixed bag.

 

Eric L. Howes

[RichardG 3]

Thats explains it, I'm getting lots of gun kills in early campaign.

 

This is an awesome mod, thanks for answering all my inquiries.

 

I felt like a 'tard getting this mod up and runing.

[+eburger68 195]

Richard:

 

I felt like a 'tard getting this mod up and runing.

 

No reason you should. Part of it is a learning process that everyone goes through. Also, you have encountered some bugs and less than friendly features along the way.

 

I am going to address the missing MiGs skin bug in the Gold release version. I'm simply going to include all the default NVN skins in the download. If ThirdWire's installer can't be relied upon to supply skins that should be there, then I'll ship 'em myself in the Expansion Pack.

 

Eric Howes

[+eburger68 195]

DrArrow:

 

The lightened flak effects definitely make a difference, and they still look fine, so we'll include those in the final release.

 

The lightened Green Hell 2 TOD set will not be included, primarily because I think adding yet another install option that works differently than the other terrain options would simply cause too much confusion.

 

What you ought to do, though, is collect all the files needed for a complete install of your custom GH2 (TODs, TGAs, BMPs), put together a nice ReadMe with install instructions (be sure to include the original GH2 ReadMe), take a few illustrative screenshots, and upload the whole package to CombatAce. You could title it "Green Hell 2 Light" and even mention in the ReadMe that it can be used with the Expansion Pack. Plus it works on both SF2V and WoV. I think other users who see performance lags with standard GH2 would find it useful.

 

Eric Howes

[DrArrow 0]

DrArrow:

 

The lightened flak effects definitely make a difference, and they still look fine, so we'll include those in the final release.

 

The lightened Green Hell 2 TOD set will not be included, primarily because I think adding yet another install option that works differently than the other terrain options would simply cause too much confusion.

 

What you ought to do, though, is collect all the files needed for a complete install of your custom GH2 (TODs, TGAs, BMPs), put together a nice ReadMe with install instructions (be sure to include the original GH2 ReadMe), take a few illustrative screenshots, and upload the whole package to CombatAce. You could title it "Green Hell 2 Light" and even mention in the ReadMe that it can be used with the Expansion Pack. Plus it works on both SF2V and WoV. I think other users who see performance lags with standard GH2 would find it useful.

 

Eric Howes

I am glad that lightened FLAK made it :) I completely understand the thing with GH2 light as it can cause hassle for users, because they have to delete old tods and not just replace the new ones. I'll do it as you suggest as a separate modification if anyone wants. Anyway I am looking very much forward to the release of GOLD version (is there any eta yet?) :)

 

 

 

[+eburger68 195]

DrArrow:

 

If you do put together a "Green Hell 2 Lite" package with all the necessary files, be sure to include install instructions for two different install scenarios: 1) Install from scratch (following Brain32's re-painted tiles, of course); 2) Install in order to replace an existing GH2 installation.

 

As for the Gold version, in a day or so -- just taking care of a few last little things.

 

Eric L. Howes

[baming 0]

This campaign pack is great!!!

 

And I have some idea for further fix.

 

1, I suggest the editors can read these articles: USAF in Thailand and USAF in South Vietnam on Wikipedia.

 

You can find detail records of each US air bases in SEA and every US air unit over Vietnam. The exact start and end dates of each air units' in Rolling Thunder, LinebackerI and LinebackerII and their base deployment status.

 

2, Seems like that FAC is not available in SF2 series. FAC flight is one of the icons of Vietnam War. Is there any ways to let Snoopy back? I really miss him.

 

3, I found that when during a campaign, air units won't go for any missions if they deploy with player's unit in the same air base

 

Further more, if it's convenient, I hope editors can make some air base mods for VienamSEA map, the original bases are too simple and crude. In the real world, big bases in South Vietnam and Thailand like Da Nang Air Base, Cam Ranh Air Base, Ubon RTAFB, Korat RTAFB, Udorn RTAFB are really magnificent.

 

 

[+eburger68 195]

Baming:

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

1. U.S. air units in SEA: TK's already done plenty of research along these lines and incorporated it into the existing campaigns. While I have the resources to double-check every campaign unit against reputable sources, doing so would significantly delay the release of the Expansion Pack.

 

2. FACs: the Expansion Pack includes a number of FAC aircraft (O-1, OV-10, etc.). The game simply won't use them as FACs for campaigns or game-generated single missions. It will use them for player-created single missions, though. Nothing we can do about that. TK has said that Snoopy will return -- don't know when, though.

 

3. Air units at same air base. Again, this behavior is hard-coded into the game -- not in our power to change it.

 

4. Expanded air bases. It's true we haven't done anything with air bases. As with #1 above, revamping air bases would take time and significantly delay the final release. Perhaps in a future release down the road. Truth be told, though, I am much more focused on adding new enemy target areas, as they have a significant impact on how the game plays (single missions as well as campaigns).

 

I was thinking just yesterday that it would be interesting if TK could figure out a way to implement ROE in SF2V during campaigns so that the campaign would only gradually release targets by type and location based on a schedule. Also missing from the game: air-to-air refueling, which played a huge role in U.S. air operations in SEA. Neither are within our power to implement, unfortunately.

 

Best,

 

Eric Howes

[baming 0]

ebruger68:

 

Your idea's great!

 

Roles of engagement was indeed the one of the most important elements of bombing the north. The White House and the Pentagon always limited the strike targets. I remember president Johnson said,"Without my permission, they can't even bomb a toilet." And in SF2V, I think the score system should give low evaluation after the player or the player's flight damaged some civilian installations.

 

Air-to-air refueling is necessary, I agree. Now I only can do it in Lock On...

 

Another bug or incorrect setting I think is the behavior of those escort role flights. I've read some books about vietnam air combat, according those combat stories, fighters escorting strike package would never leave the bombers until the MiGs start attacking on the package. But in WOV and SF2V, once the Red Crown called bandits, every escorting flight just jettison fuel tanks and light their afterburner heading to the enemys! Though it's MiG-CAP or Fighter Sweep job! Fighter Sweeper flight sould also increase, USAF and USN usually put several flights for ingressCAP, TARCAP and egressCAP.

Also, there was a kind of misson called chaff bombing.

 

Really hope TK will work on it soon.

 

I just thought another vietnam war icon -- helicopters!

I think when go for some CAS, helicopters such as UH-1H can appear and use 50.cals and rockets engaging enemy ground force just like the scene in "Apocalypse Now". Is that any chance helicopters fly as Strike or SEAD role to make it happen? I've tested the UH-1H to let it fly in strike role and unfortunately it didn't work. The 8 Huey all hit the mountain one by one while began flying to their target. Maybe the helicopter's data.ini need to be fixed.

 

Last question, can we put more than 2 planes in a NPC SEAD flight? , and in many real mission, to suppress one AAGun site or SAM site, there always no less than 4 wild weasels forming as one flight.

 

Sincerely,

 

Baming.

Edited November 4, 2009 by baming

[+eburger68 195]

Baming:

 

Again, you're raising issues that are really beyond our capacity to fix. The game determines the size of SEAD flights.

 

As for helos -- too difficult to implement as things stand. The helo flight models we have at present, though improved over what they were a few years ago, are not really adequate to allow AI to fly them reliably, to say nothing of players (and if we added helos, folks would immediately demand that we make them player-flyable). Also, some of helo models have other issues that make implementation difficult -- too many headaches.

 

Eric L. Howes

[baming 0]

eburger68:

 

I knew those issues are beyond your capacity.

 

And I just hope maybe you can tell TK about my ideas. You see I'm a new guy here and I don't kown how to contact to TK.

 

Once more, your job of the SF2V fix pack is great enough! I really enjoy it.

 

Baming

Edited November 4, 2009 by baming

[+Dave 2,318]

eburger68:

 

I knew those issues are beyond your capacity.

 

And I just hope maybe you can tell TK about my ideas. You see I'm a new guy here and I don't kown how to contact to TK.

 

Once more, your job of the SF2V fix pack is great enough! I really enjoy it.

 

Baming

 

Having talked to TK about this years ago and beta tested for him, he said he wouldn't change the current format. What you see is what you get.

[baming 0]

Dave:

 

Did TK mean he won't even make any improvement on the format for next SF3?

 

Oh, that ain't cool...

Edited November 4, 2009 by baming